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Home , James Milner, Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany

26 2012 August Date: 26 August 2012 Guardian Mirror BBC Opposition: City Independent Mail MEN Telegraph Echo Times Competition: League

Coates 6, M Skrtel 6, G Johnson 7 - Lucas Leiva (sub: J Shelvey, 56 7), J Allen 8 - F Borini 7 (sub: A Carroll, 84), S Gerrard 6, R Sterling 7 - L Suarez 6. Substitutes not Rodgers defends Skrtel as flawed City fight back used: B Jones, J Carragher, J Henderson, S Downing. Booked: Suarez. Manchester City (3-4-1-2): J Hart 5 - K Toure 4, V Kompany 5, P Zabaleta 5 - J Milner 5 (sub: D Liverpool Skrtel 34, Suarez 66 2 Manchester City Y Toure 63, Tevez 80 2 Referee A Silva, 75), N de Jong 5, Y Toure 7, A Kolarov 6 - S Nasri 5 (sub: J Rodwell, 60 6) - M Marriner Attendance 44,942 On an enthralling afternoon at Balotelli 5 (sub: E Dzeko, 62 7), C Tevez 8. Substitutes not used: C Pantilimon, S Anfield, Liverpool were undone - and Manchester City saved - by the type of error Savic, J Lescott, A Razak. that usually sends a manager's blood pressure soaring through the roof. With ten minutes remaining and his team leading 2-1, Martin Skrtel played a careless back pass that was ruthlessly punished by to the sounds of groans from a hitherto exuberant Kop. Martin Skrtel's gift gives Manchester City a draw against Liverpool It was the kind of mistake that often sees a player blanked, subjected to a blast of will be tormented by the manner in which Liverpoolsurrendered invective or dragged back to the scene of the crime to have the figurative "Row Z" their first win under his stewardship. His team had played with pointed out to him to ensure that it never happens again. But that is not Brendan great vibrancy but they were undone by the kind of defensive mistake that will fill Rodgers's style. From Liverpool's manager, denied an uplifting victory in his first their manager with intense frustration, just as he might have been tempted to Barclays Premier League match at Anfield, there was an arm around the shoulder think everything was starting to click into place. for Skrtel, whom he indulged and encouraged to be brave enough to take Martin Skrtel was the man waving an apologetic hand and wearing the expression approximately the same risk again in future. of someone who could scarcely believe his own carelessness. Liverpool were "It's not frustrating," Rodgers said. "It's all part of the journey. I commend the winning 2-1 when the centre-half tried to play the ball back to his goalkeeper, player's courage. The easy thing is to get a player to smash the ball upfield and Pepe Reina, and succeeded only in teeing up Carlos Tevez for an then the opposition have the ball and they're on the attack again. The angle of the equaliser Manchester City had barely deserved. Skrtel had committed the ball is what we will work on. There's no blame on Martin. For us to dominate defender's sin of passing the ball from a blind position and Tevez, loitering with games we need to have players who have courage on the ball." intent, nipped in to score in front of the Kop and leave Liverpool with only a It is the classic Rodgers pronouncement, often heard during his days at Swansea solitary point from the first two league games of the Rodgers era. City; wherever that journey ends up taking his team, short cuts will not be With Arsenal and Manchester United sandwiching a trip to Sunderland in their allowed. And while that might sound questionable withLiverpool sixteenth in the next three matches, it is not the start Rodgers would have wanted but this was far Premier League after taking a solitary point from their first two games, conceding from a Liverpool performance to inspire any sense of unease, certainly not in the five goals, this was an afternoon that brought encouragement, not least in the manner of their 3-0 defeat at West Bromwich. They were the better side for long contributions of Joe Allen and , the precocious 17-year-old periods and, though they must feel great exasperation, they can still take winger. encouragement from they way they tackled the champions. If nothing else, it All that encouragement, though, will be tempered by an unexpected sense of should soothe any lingering nerves from what happened at The Hawthorns. disappointment for Liverpool. They caught Manchester City on an off-day and, Liverpool not only played with great industry and togetherness but demonstrated having played well to lead deservedly at 1-0 and 2-1, they let them off the hook. a sense of belief that must have invigorated their crowd. The home side could As for whether might regard it as two points dropped or one easily have lost direction after Yaya Touré's equaliser had threatened to turn the point gained, his immediate focus might be on a point proven to his board about game in City's favour after 63 minutes. Instead, the players in red rolled up their the need to add more than Scott Sinclair, the Swansea winger, to his squad before sleeves and set about the business of reasserting their authority. the transfer deadline on Friday. Luis Suárez's wonderfully taken free-kick put them back into the lead within three The champions have begun their title defence in curious fashion. Yesterday saw a minutes and, at that point, City looked vulnerable and short of ideas. Roberto reversion to the 3-4-1-2 formation seen in the Community Shield and on this Mancini argued that his team had more than matched their opponents, going on occasion, with a rusty Kolo Toure bewilderingly preferred to , it did to say that not many other sides would create so many chances at Anfield. It was not convince. Tevez was a rare source of positivity, along with the character they a generous appraisal. City started the game well and might even have snatched a showed after falling 2-1 down, but they looked dysfunctional in falling behind to winner during an entertaining second half but the champions looked flat and Skrtel's 34th-minute header and then, after Yaya Toure's equaliser, a Luis Suarez unusually subdued in other periods. Mancini was experimenting with the 3-4-1-2 free kick. Rodgers's Liverpool is perhaps epitomised by Allen, diminutive but formation he tried out in the Community Shield and the conclusion is they are a highly economical in midfield, but the eye was constantly drawn to Sterling. He more potent outfit in their usual 4-2-3-1 system. showed a wonderful confidence on his first Premier League start. There was also the latest sign of possible discord behind the scenes when, losing From one Sterling cross, Fabio Borini volleyed just wide in the eighteenth minute 1-0, Mancini gave some instructions to James Milner and his player responded and it was at that point that the belief from the home players and supporters with a steam of invective. Too much can be read into these moments sometimes seemed to rise. Liverpool grew in confidence and, after Martin Kelly's cross was and it is too simplistic to say it represents a lack of team spirit. City have shown on deflected over the crossbar by a stretching , 's plenty of occasions this is far from the truth. Equally, however, these little corner was met with a thumping header from Skrtel. outbursts happen too often with this group of players. Despite the early loss of Lucas Leiva to a thigh injury, Liverpool were looking Mancini's anger was more focused on his team's marking for the opening goal assured in midfield, their only scare in the first half coming when 's when Steven Gerrard's corner was delivered with speed and curl and Skrtel pass allowed Tevez to dribble around Pepe Reina, who deflected the ensuing shot attacked the ball in the manner of someone whose only intention was to score. on to a post. By half-time City were looking sloppy and, as Nigel de Jong's pass Aleksandar Kolarov, the nearest opponent, was nothing like as decisive and was intercepted by Borini and then wasted by Suarez early in the second half, the Skrtel's header powered its way beyond . The defender's afternoon would feeling grew that something would have to change. form a wild graph of different emotions. Liverpool had been threatening City's Rather than send on , Mancini replaced Nasri with Jack Rodwell, but goal for the previous quarter of an hour and finished the first half on top by some that allowed him to move Yaya Toure farther forward - and within four minutes distance. Joe Allen was prominently involved, linking up promisingly with Gerrard. the had equalised. The goal could be traced back to a stray pass from Suárez was joined in attack by Fabio Borini on the right and Raheem Sterling on Gerrard, but there were mistakes from Liverpool the left, offering plenty of movement and penetration against the new-look City all along the line after that, as Sterling was left isolated against Tevez, who beat defence, most surprisingly featuring Kolo Touré ahead of Joleon Lescott. him easily and then sent a cross that Reina, Skrtel and Kelly all failed to deal with, Sterling justified his selection with some lovely flashes of old-fashioned wing play, allowing Yaya Toure to convert. Parity lasted only three minutes. although the Premier League can be an unforgiving place for a 17-year-old and Rodwell was harshly punished for handball, after a Gerrard shot bounced off his the teenager lost Tevez in the buildup to City's first equaliser. Tevez's cross flicked knee and on to his arm, and his sense of injustice increased when Suarez curled off Skrtel to take the ball away from Reina and, when it came back off Martin the free kick around the outside of the wall and past a scrambling Joe Hart. "It Kelly's thigh, Yaya Touré swivelled to score from six yards. was not a free kick - the same as it was not a penalty against us here last year Yaya Touré had just been moved further forward in a tactical switch from Mancini [when was punished over a similar incident in the Carling Cup that saw Jack Rodwell come on for the largely ineffective Samir Nasri. Rodwell, as semi-final at Anfield]," Mancini said. Mancini was entitled to complain, but a lucky a former Everton player, was baited by the Kop, but it will not have hurt as much escape followed when Kolarov seemed to trip in the . A as conceding the free-kick that allowed Suárez to score. Rodwell was penalised for third Liverpool goal at that point might have put the match even beyond a handball when the first connection to block Gerrard's shot was actually with his Manchester City's recent powers of escapology, but, as it was, Mancini's team knee. What cannot be disputed is that Suárez bent the ball around the wall and responded well. That pressure was seen in Tevez's persistence, which turned Hart with great expertise. what might otherwise have been a routine back pass by Skrtel into a suicidal one. Anfield, once again, felt like a happy place but Skrtel's mistake had significant Tevez pounced, waltzed around Reina and prodded the ball in for the 100th goal consequences. Tevez missed the injured Sergio Agüero – the same understanding of his eventful career in English football. is not there with Mario Balotelli – but he had already turned one effort against Even then there was time for two out-of-favour centre forwards to threaten a the post and was ruthless when given the chance to equalise. winning goal, Edin Dzeko shooting over from Kolarov's cross and It was his 100th goal in English football and, to Liverpool's anguish, it came seeing his header cleared off the line by Rodwell. Skrtel looked distraught at the wrapped in red and white ribbons. end. His manager will tell him to keep calm and carry on. Man of the match: Joe Allen (Liverpool) ratings Liverpool (4-2-3-1): J M Reina 5 - M Kelly 5 (sub: J Enrique, 65min 6), S

Compiled by Graeme Riley

26 2012 August Date: 26 August 2012 Guardian Mirror BBC Opposition: Manchester City Independent Mail MEN Telegraph Echo Times Competition: League

(Shelvey 5), Allen; Borini (Carroll 83), Suarez, Sterling. Subs not used: Jones, Carragher, Henderson, Downing. Goals: Skrtel 34, Suarez 66. Mancini has a real fight on his hands to lift champions Booking: Suarez One of Roberto Mancini’s favourite current mantras is that champions need to Man City: Hart; Kolo Toure, Kompany, Zabaleta; Milner (Silva 76), De Jong, Yaya improve if they are to stay ahead of the rest. Toure, Kolarov; Nasri (Rodwell 59); Tevez, Balotelli (Dzeko 62). At the moment, though, the opposite is true of Manchester City. Two games into Subs not used: Pantilimon, Savic, Lescott, Razak. the defence of their Barclays Premier League title and the Italian’s team look a Goals: Yaya Toure 63, Tevez 80. shadow of their true selves. Referee: . Attendance: 44,942. City more than played their part in a lively game at Anfield on Sunday afternoon. One thing last season’s championship has given them is belief. For the third league game running, City came from 2-1 down to earn something from the match. This, however, cannot go on. If City are to successfully defend their title For Liverpool, to lose the lead once could be considered a misfortune. To lose the then rollercoaster days like this one and the one they endured at home to lead twice seemed like carelessness yet their frustration at defensive lapses was Southampton will not get the job done. Mancini will take heart from another assuaged by the gathering of undeniable plus points in terms of performance to comeback. His team remain hard to beat. Nevertheless they were given two goals go with the lone Premier Leaguepoint. The Kop liked what it saw of Brendan here by Liverpool’s defence and created precious little of note apart from that. Rodgers’ vision on Sunday. The eyes of Liverpool fans did fill with disbelief and Some may argue that Mancini’s tinkering with his formation isn’t helping and dismay at a couple of aberrations. Martin Kelly’s leaden touch allowed Yaya Touré there may be something in that. On Sunday he reverted to a three-man central to level Martin Skrtel’s thunderous header. After Luis Suárez restored Liverpool’s defensive line that featured a reserve, Kolo Toure, and , who is a advantage with a majestic free-kick, Skrtel’s ill-judged pass gifted the excellent full back. With Liverpool operating with just one central forward, Luis Suarez, this Carlos Tévez the chance to equalise with his 100th goal in English football. was puzzling, especially given that Joleon Lescott was among the substitutes and It was Rodgers’ insistence that his defenders did not launch the ball wildly is not injured. Frankly, City looked laboured for long periods. Dreadful in the first forward when under pressure that eventually cost them, yet such was the price to half, they did get better as the game wore on and perhaps even finished the game pay for adhering religiously to a new doctrine, to the possession game, to the stronger team. A point, though, was the very most they deserved. rebuilding Liverpool. Row Z is for supporters, not clearances. Rodgers wants his One would imagine they will improve. Players such as David Silva and Mario players to be bold, to manoeuvre the ball out of tight corners, even with the Balotelli look as though they are still finding their sharpness after post-Euro 2012 obvious heightened risk. Nobody said it would be easy, learning a new way. lay-offs. The same can be said of England midfielder James Milner. Patience is required. Concentration too. Yet Rodgers’ approach is to be lauded. Mancini, though, will hope that improvement arrives soon. Games against Stoke The fans certainly applauded. As Rodgers began planting seeds of a more City and Arsenal are on the horizon, as is the Champions League, and City need to thoughtful, fruitful game in Anfield’s lush terrain, it seemed strange to read the find a better stride. “we come not to play” motto of Liverpool’s new kit sponsors splashed around the On Sunday, they found themselves facing a Liverpool team still settling down ground. The slogan, supposedly celebrating a focus solely on winning, was out of under the guidance of a new manager, Brendan Rodgers. After last week’s defeat kilter with Rodgers’ tenets. Liverpool do come to play. at West Bromwich Albion, Liverpool’s anxious supporters came hoping for an Here were Liverpool passing and moving, the tone set by the composed Joe Allen. afternoon of reassurance — and, for a while, looked as though they might get it. The fee of £15 million required to prise the midfielder fromSwansea City raised One of the most impressive things about Rodgers’ management is its confidence. many eyebrows but he answered many questions here. He chose a 17-year-old, Raheem Sterling, on the left side and left three products He rarely wasted the ball, also demonstrating a hunger for closing opponents of the era — , Andy Carroll and Jordan down, particularly when Lucas hobbled off, requiring Allen to anchor more in Henderson — on the bench. Rodgers’ 4-2-1-3 system. Another plus was a lively display from Raheem Sterling, In the centre of the field, meanwhile, young Joe Allen — bought by Rodgers from making his first Premier League start, signalling his promise with a series of runs his old club Swansea — looked an assured and confident footballer. Allen looked at and beyond Kolo Touré, who resembled a statue at times. comfortable in his surroundings, passed the ball rhythmically and, though his Sterling was brought in from QPR’s academy two years ago, and is already proving influence waned late on, was the most impressive player on the pitch. £500,000 well-spent. Investing in personnel was a theme on Roberto Mancini’s With City so uncertain early on, there was opportunity for Liverpool to impose mind. TheManchester City manager clearly feels the next five days will shape his themselves. For a while they didn’t really take it. Fabio Borini volleyed a chance season. They are hardly short of stars, and Scott Sinclair seems certain to arrive wide from a Sterling cross, while at the other end Carlos Tevez ran on to a Samir from Swansea on Tuesday, but there was a flatness about the champions on Nasri pass to roll a shot against a post. Sunday. Javi Martínez, seemingly in Bayern Munich’s embrace, remains on City’s Midway through the half, however, Liverpool began to gather momentum. A radar, understandably so as the Athletic Bilbao player can operate as a ball-using Borini shot was charged down by Kolo Toure, while another from Suarez centre-half in the 3-4-1-2 system Mancini occasionally favours, or dictate tempo cannoned away off Vincent Kompany. in midfield. City also need a striker. Even taking into account the month-long loss Then, 10 minutes before half-time, a goal. Steven Gerrard curled a corner in from of some of their cutting edge with Sergio Agüero’s unfortunate incapacitation the right and Martin Skrtel, leaving Aleksandar Kolarov in his wake, thundered in through injury, City should still have mustered a more menacing look in attack. from the edge of the penalty area to send a punishing header high into the net. Mario Balotelli rarely raised a canter, let alone a gallop. Samir Nasri disappeared It was a goal to bring a game to life and that is precisely what it did. The Kop were down too many cul de sacs. exultant at half-time and would have been even more excitable had Suarez found David Silva was kept in reserve too long. Edin Dzeko replaced Balotelli but failed the corner of the goal as he moved on to an Allen lay-off 20 yards out. to worry Liverpool. Only Tévez was a persistent threat. Only Tévez of Mancini’s As it was, Liverpool still had a precious lead and City had a game to chase. players really lived up to his vaunted reputation. Early in the second period the game followed a similar pattern. Liverpool looked Mancini’s tinkering with his tactics, here using a 3-4-1-2 system that accounted confident, while City lacked fluency. for Chelsea in the Community Shield, had been anticipated by Rodgers, who Had Borini provided a better pass for Suarez after intercepting a rank Yaya Toure unleashed Sterling at the exposed Kolo Touré. The lyrics about a “teenage pass in the 50th minute, then the home team might have sealed the game. As it wasteland” from The Who’s Baba O’Riley wafted around Anfield at the break, a was, Tevez skipped past Sterling to cross from the byline 15 minutes later and slightly inappropriate song after the energetic exertions of the 17-year-old when Reina and Skrtel got in each other’s way the ball bounced off Martin Kelly’s Sterling. It was an adventurous move by Rodgers, almost a statement of intent knees to allow Yaya Toure to turn it in for the equaliser from six yards. that he will give youth a chance. Given the value of Sterling, a penny for the Back in the contest unexpectedly, City now had an opportunity to strangle the thoughts of Stewart Downing and . Slim of frame but strong of game. They did improve but Liverpool resisted and the excitement levels edged will, Sterling acted like an adrenalin shot on Anfield. up a notch or two when they regained the lead. The game took a while to come into vibrant life, eventually ignited by Sterling. Substitute Jack Rodwell was perhaps unfortunate to be penalised for handball Sebastian Coates suddenly drilled a long pass to the No 31, who tamed the ball when blocking a Gerrard shot. Replays showed the ball bounced up off his knee to effortlessly. Moments later, he was troubling Kolo Touré again, suddenly cutting strike his arm. Nevertheless, the subsequent positioning of the City defensive wall back on to his right foot and lifting in a superb cross that Fabio Borini turned wide. was lamentable and Suarez’s expertly taken free-kick found its way round the side City’s usual thoroughbreds were off the pace. Only Tévez showed. The Argentine and into the bottom left corner of Joe Hart’s net. This was turning into a dreadful darted in from the right, shooting from a tight angle past Pepe Reina but hitting afternoon for defenders. Each of the three goals could have been prevented. the post. Liverpool responded, Steven Gerrard whipping in a ball that Vincent Worse was to come, however, and this time the culprit was scorer Skrtel. Under Kompany almost diverted in past Joe Hart. The ball ended up in the Kop but was pressure on the touchline, the Slovak committed the cardinal sin of passing back soon in City’s net. When Gerrard drilled across the corner, Skrtel outmuscled and without looking. The lurking Tevez found himself presented with a gift and eased outjumped Aleksandar Kolarov and Pablo Zabaleta to power a header past Hart, himself past Reina to roll his 100th goal in English football into an empty net. almost ripping the net from the stanchions. For Liverpool, it was like a balloon had burst. A win would have done much for The new half failed to bring an immediate change in City’s efforts. them ahead of challenges to come. As for City, they are unbeaten after two. That Yaya Touré seemed penned too deep, a victim of Mancini’s system that was is probably the most positive way to spin it. supposed to liberate him. Mancini withdrew Nasri and sent on Jack Rodwell, the MATCH FACTS former Evertonian cruelly greeted with chants of “you should have stayed at a Liverpool: Reina; Kelly (Enrique 66), Coates, Skrtel, Johnson; Gerrard, Lucas

Compiled by Graeme Riley

26 2012 August Date: 26 August 2012 Guardian Mirror BBC Opposition: Manchester City Independent Mail MEN Telegraph Echo Times Competition: League small club” by the Kop. Rodwell assumed the deep-lying duties, Yaya Touré and shot from close to the goal-line outside the right post. It brushed the pushed on and was soon rewarded. Tévez eluded Sterling on the right, brushing goalkeeper's glove which took it against the post but at fractionally the wrong the youngster aside, and crossed into the box. Skrtel’s slight touch took the ball angle to bounce in. Other than a shot from the ineffective Mario Balotelli, which away from Reina, sending it on to Kelly. Liverpool’s full-back could have hooked it landed in the second tier of the Anfield Road end, City looked laboured. clear but chose to try and control it. His touch had to be adhesive. It was not and Liverpool, on the other hand, got their act together quickly. Kompany only just Yaya Touré pounced. Liverpool swiftly regained the lead via a 67th-minute free- directed Gerrard's cross over from the bar on 33 minutes and from the resultant kick, although Rodwell was unfortunate to have been deemed to have handled corner, Skrtel scattered Aleksandar Kolarov and Pablo Zabaleta on his was to Gerrard’s thunderous drive that engineered the set-piece. Hart ordered a wall, heading the ball, hard, past Joe Hart. By the time the game reached the hour comprising Rodwell, Kolarov, Dzeko and James Milner. This human barricade point, Liverpool were well in control. Samir Nasri, another below-par performer, appeared to be lined up properly, seeming to protect the space at the near post. was replaced with Rodwell and then just when they needed to stay tight, Suárez, though, imparted enough bend to take the ball around Rodwell and draw Liverpool conceded. Tevez got past Sterling on the right, Reina punched and then it back in, bisecting the diving Hart and the post. Mancini finally switched to a Kelly made a hash of controlling the ball, presenting it to Yaya Touré to score. back four. City, showing their character, pushed on in search of a point. It came Parity lasted just three minutes, until Rodwell conceded a dubious free-kick that gift-wrapped. Skrtel played the ball blind back to Reina, not noticing the lurking struck his knee then his hand. Suarez curved the ball around the end of the wall Tévez. Such a cool finisher as the Argentine was not going to waste such a present on which the England man was standing and just inside Hart's left post before the as this, rounding Reina and stroking the ball home. goalkeeper could get down in time to save it. From there the game should have been won but Skrtel's back-pass to Tevez needlessly put Liverpool under pressure and the striker did very well to sidestep Reina and score. It says something about Liverpool's performance that they could Liverpool show signs of promise but allow Tevez to rescue off-colour be disappointed only to take a point against such a good team but it is a point and something to be positive about and in these delicate early days, Rodgers will City surely settle for that. Brendan Rodgers will be only too aware that, two games into the season, his Match facts Liverpool team still lack the kind of result that announces to the world that the Booked: Suarez Man of match: Allen Match rating: 7/10. club are capable of making some impact this season. As for their performance Possession: Liverpool 51%. Man City 49% yesterday, it was certainly the first tentative step along the road to putting in Attempts on target: Liverpool: 8 Manchester City: 5 practice the deeply-held values Rodgers espoused when he first took over. Referee: A Marriner (W Midlands). Attendance: 44,942 The Liverpool manager met his players one-by-one as they came off the pitch, from 17-year-old Raheem Sterling wearing the Carlos Tevez shirt he had exchanged with the Argentine to Steven Gerrard who has witnessed more than one false dawn at Anfield. The mood projected by Rodgers was one of pride and contentment even if his team had twice thrown away a lead against the Premier League champions. Bobby Manc's out of shape at Anfield, but errors cost Reds Liverpool should have won this game and there will surely be very few occasions If Roberto Mancini picked this side to make a point, then it was the only decision when City are as unconvincing, especially in attack, as they were at Anfield. that truly came off for him at Anfield yesterday. Fortunately for Roberto Mancini's team they were gifted two goals by dreadful There was a suspicion the Manchester City manager went with a back five to defensive errors from first Martin Kelly and then by Martin Skrtel whose highlight his need for reinforcements in that area. How else to explain a bizarre preposterous back-pass into the feet of Tevez for the second City equaliser was a tactical decision that should have cost the champions this game? dereliction of duty. Those two moments aside, however, this was a performance It certainly worked if that was the case, because Liverpool looked so superior for that gives some cause for optimism, although no-one at Liverpool is under any so much of the contest you almost expected one of those charity-style oversized illusions about how long and hard the road will be. For the 14 minutes during cheques to be passed directly onto the pitch from the directors’ box at the end. which they led 2-1 after Luis Suarez's second-half goal this was shaping up to be a The Italian was outmaneuvered by his Liverpool counter-part Brendan Rodgers, momentous result for the home team; as it was the final whistle was greeted with and his side were completely overrun in midfield by opponents who were denied appreciation and a familiar sense of resignation. the most comfortable of victories only by two crass errors of their own. In midfield, Joe Allen made sure the play ticked over nicely and Gerrard and Defending with so many men so deep against a side with one striker – and whose Suarez demonstrated that once again they will be vital to Liverpool's season. mission statement is to keep the ball in midfield – looked perverse. Sterling, who won his place with that impressive performance against Heart of Liverpool will still be wondering this morning how they didn’t get their Anfield Midlothian last week in the Europa League qualifier, flitted in and out the game, Premier League campaign under Rodgers off to the most spectacular of starts. as you would expect of one so young, but did more than enough to justify his Where Mancini was cautious to the point of timidity, Rodgers was courageous – inclusion. As for City, this was nothing like the formidable side that came from following his instinct to throw in 17-year-old Raheem Sterling for his full home behind to beat Chelsea in the Community Shield and then Southampton on the debut instead of employing the safe option of Stewart Downing – and asking his previous weekend but nevertheless they still had enough about them to escape side to have belief in their ability to out-pass the title-holders. with a point. This is what, we are constantly told, champions are supposed to do; It worked for 70 minutes, with Joe Allen’s virtuoso performance in the middle but champions are also obliged to play better than City did for much of the game. orchestrating a compelling Liverpool display that offered rich promise going Mancini started with three in defence as he did against Chelsea two weeks earlier, forward. They created enough chances to have taken the game comfortably. and later was forced to switch back to an orthodox four. He changed in the As it was though, the impressive Fabio Borini put one effort wide after a fine early second half to push Yaya Touré further forward and was immediately rewarded move, and twice Luis Suarez failed to finish, before City skipper Vincent Kompany with a goal from the midfielder. He got a tirade of abuse back from James Milner, so nearly turned a Steven Gerrard cross into his own net. of all people, in one touchline exchange. All told, not City's best day. It meant City – who created just one meaningful moment in the first half when Up in the directors' box was City's executive Brian Marwood, the man who, one Tevez hit the far post – remained in the game even when Liverpool finally found gets the impression, the City manager would cheerfully throttle at the moment. the net on 33 minutes. It was a fine goal as Martin Skrtel thundered onto a The failure to land the big names available this summer, like and Gerrard corner to send the ball crashing into the roof of the net. , might have stolen some of the momentum from City over the break With Liverpool seemingly in total control, City were reduced to firing long hopeful but Mancini is hardly short of options. balls to a talented attack made impotent by being completely cut off from their He brought Kolo Touré into the side at the expense of Joleon Lescott who was supply lines. In a rare moment of individual skill though, Tevez wriggled free on also joined on the bench by, among others, Jack Rodwell, Edin Dzeko and David the left and Pepe Reina flapped woefully at the cross, sowing confusion which saw Silva, all three of whom came into the game later on. Having equalised through the ball bounce off defender Martin Kelly to sit up beautifully for Yaya Toure to Tevez, who finished beautifully when gifted the ball by Skrtel, it was still City tap in. Liverpool reasserted their dominance and promptly scored again, on 66 hanging on at the end and relying upon Vincent Kompany to head away Andy minutes, when Suarez unleashed a vicious swerving free-kick that exposed Joe Carroll's goalbound attempt. Hart’s errant wall positioning to nestle in the bottom corner. Without the suspended Daniel Agger, Rodgers opted for Sebastian Coates ahead Only then did Mancini recognise his tactics were wrong, and they reverted to a of , a decision that will no doubt have deeply frustrated the latter. flat back four and pressed higher up the pitch, forcing Liverpool to pass under a In midfield the Liverpool manager was forced to replace Lucas Leiva after five pressure previously missing. With David Silva introduced – 25 minutes too late – minutes when the player complained of a thigh problem. With Jonjo Shelvey on in finally City found the threat champions are supposed to pose. his place, that immediately reduced Rodgers' capacity to make changes. His team Even so, it took another awful mistake to give them a passage back into the game. responded well. Skrtel passed blind back to the keeper, for Tevez to dart in, put Reina on his It is not hard to see why Carroll, who played only the last seven minutes backside and roll the ball into the net. yesterday, does not fit into the Rodgers master-plan. The forward three of Suarez, City could have won it at the end when substitute Edin Dzeko twice came close, Sterling and Fabio Borini run hard to close down defenders and interchange but that would have added to the injustice Liverpool felt, not least when they quickly. In fact, Borini might have pinched a goal with a nicely-timed near-post run were denied a clear penalty when leading 2-1 after Kolarov caught Glen Johnson on 18 minutes to meet Sterling's cross from the left. in the box. The best of City's forwards, Tevez, took the ball wide of Pepe Reina on 19 minutes

Compiled by Graeme Riley

26 2012 August Date: 26 August 2012 Guardian Mirror BBC Opposition: Manchester City Independent Mail MEN Telegraph Echo Times Competition: League

was one more twist to come. After the ecstasy of his first goal since last season’s Carling Cup final, there was agony for Skrtel as his shocking backpass allowed Tevez to restore parity. Rodgers went for broke as he introduced Andy Carroll and the reception the big frontman received made it clear that fans want him to stay at Anfield beyond this . The Reds threw everything at City in The dawning of a new error search of a winner late on but Shelvey’s strike flew just over and Carroll saw his IT WAS so gloriously different yet ultimately so painfully familiar for Liverpool FC. header cleared off the line. The champions escaped with a share of the spoils but ‘We didn’t get what we deserved’ was a regular lament after games at Anfield last if Liverpool can replicate this kind of intensity and cut out those self-inflicted wounds then other visitors won’t be as fortunate. season and the first home instalment of the 2012/13 campaign evoked similar sentiments. But amidst the acute frustration of seeing Brendan Rodgers’ side toss away two points against Manchester City, there was also a tangible sense of hope and excitement about what the future may hold. This was a new Liverpool. A better and bolder Liverpool, who took the game to the champions and dominated an enthralling contest for long periods. Twice they led courtesy of goals from Martin Skrtel and Luis Suarez but twice they shot themselves in the foot as defensive blunders allowed Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez to steal City a point. On each occasion the Reds dusted themselves off and went again. Rather than sitting back and ever settling for what they had, they went for the jugular. This was the attacking brand of football Rodgers had promised when he arrived at Anfield and the supporters lapped it up. Standards were set both on and off the pitch. The atmosphere was electric as those in red were inspired to greater heights by the wall of noise emanating from the stands. The constant tales of woe on home turf took their toll last season as often the ground was eerily quiet. Yesterday it was transformed. “I want to use the incredible support to make coming to Anfield the longest 90 minutes of an opponent’s life,” said Rodgers at his unveiling. This was what he was talking about. If last weekend’s nightmare opening day defeat at West Brom laid bare the size of the challenge facing the Northern Irishman, this performance suggested he’s already getting to grips with it. Liverpool can’t hope to compete with Manchester City over the course of this season. Roberto Mancini has a star- studded squad shaped with a bottomless pit of cash during the past four years under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour. In contrast Rodgers has had a mere eight weeks on the training ground and just a £20million transfer kitty to try to transform a group desperately lacking in depth. But by being tactically astute and establishing a system of play where everyone works tirelessly for the cause, the plan is that the whole will be greater than the sum of its parts. For all City’s riches, Liverpool had the game’s outstanding performer in Joe Allen. Eyebrows were raised when Rodgers shelled out £15million to sign the young Welshmen from Swansea City this summer but he looks to be worth every penny. Allen pulled the strings in midfield as his vision and deadly accuracy picked holes in the City rearguard. His composure and reading of the game is remarkable. With the average age of the Liverpool team under 25, it was the youngest starting XI the club had fielded in the top flight since 2003. Rodgers is happy to place his trust in youth and his decision to hand a full league debut to Raheem Sterling paid off handsomely. Despite the 17-year-old winger’s impact at Hearts three days earlier, starting him in such a high profile fixture was a gamble considering he had just 26 minutes of Premier League football under his belt. The safe option would have been to stick with Stewart Downing on the left but the England international was relegated to bench duty and on this evidence he may have to get used to watching. Sterling showed maturity beyond his years. There was no hint of nerves on the biggest day of his blossoming career as he using his breathtaking pace to good effect. There was a buzz of anticipation around the ground every time he got on the ball and he caused Kolo Toure a stack of problems. The other change to the side which was beaten at West Brom saw Sebastian Coates preferred to Jamie Carragher to replace Daniel Agger, who served a one-match ban. Coates started just four times in the league during his first year at Anfield and his distribution remains weak but defensively he was sound and grew in confidence as the afternoon wore on. The absence of Charlie Adam and Jay Spearing from the matchday squad was telling with both expected to move on before the transfer window shuts on Friday night. With chairman Tom Werner and new loan signing Nuri Sahin watching on from the directors’ box, Liverpool had to recover from the setback of seeing Lucas Leiva limp off inside four minutes with a thigh strain. It was tough on the Brazilian who has worked so hard to recover from a cruciate injury and was making his first league appearance at Anfield since the corresponding fixture last November. But his replacement Jonjo Shelvey didn’t let anyone down and as the first half wore on Liverpool strengthened their grip on the game. Fabio Borini should have broken the deadlock but stabbed his volley wide from Sterling’s inviting cross. Tevez hit a post but City were on the back foot and the goal Liverpool deserved arrived 11 minutes before the break. Skrtel timed his run to meet Steven Gerrard’s corner to perfection as he unleashed an unstoppable bullet header past Joe Hart. In the second half Suarez went close to doubling the Reds’ lead and they were cruising until they gifted City a 63rd minute equaliser. It was naïve to leave Sterling defending one on one against Tevez, who nipped past him and delivered into the box. A touch from Skrtel took it away from Pepe Reina and Martin Kelly inadvertently guided it into the path of Yaya Toure who gleefully converted. The response was swift as within three minutes the lead was restored. Substitute Jack Rodwell handled Gerrard’s piledriver and Suarez stepped up to curl a stunning 25-yard free-kick into the bottom corner. Anfield erupted but sadly there

Compiled by Graeme Riley

26 2012 August Date: 26 August 2012 Guardian Mirror BBC Opposition: Manchester City Independent Mail MEN Telegraph Echo Times Competition: League

left of the target. 47:27 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kolo Toure by Raheem 90:00+4:14Full time The referee blows his whistle to end the game. Sterling. Kolo Toure restarts play with the free kick. 90:00+3:47 Shot by Joe Allen from a long way out goes over the net. 45:45 James Milner fouled by Raheem Sterling, the ref awards a free kick. 90:00+3:27Booking Luis Suarez is booked. Aleksandar Kolarov delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing. 90:00+2:54 Carlos Tevez produces a right-footed shot from just outside the 45:15 Martin Skrtel concedes a free kick for a foul on Mario Balotelli. Samir Nasri penalty box that misses to the left of the goal. takes the direct free kick. 90:00+2:23 Corner from the left by-line taken by David Silva, clearance by 45:01 The second half begins. Sebastian Coates. 45:00+2:11Half time The referee calls an end to the first half. 90:00+1:25 Glen Johnson has a drilled shot. Save by Joe Hart. 45:00+0:53 Unfair challenge on Mario Balotelli by Raheem Sterling results in a 90:00+0:31 Pablo Zabaleta delivers the ball, clearance by Glen Johnson. free kick. Shot on goal comes in from Aleksandar Kolarov from the free kick. 88:45 The ball is sent over by Steven Gerrard, Joe Hart makes a save. 45:00+0:20 The ball is delivered by Raheem Sterling, Kolo Toure manages to make 87:29 Andy Carroll takes a shot. Vincent Kompany manages to make a clearance. a clearance. 87:14 Outswinging corner taken by Steven Gerrard, clearance by Pablo Zabaleta. 43:51 Corner taken left-footed by Aleksandar Kolarov, Fabio Borini makes a 87:00 Shot by Jonjo Shelvey. Kolo Toure makes a clearance. clearance. 86:29 Corner taken right-footed by Steven Gerrard. 42:54 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Aleksandar Kolarov from the right 86:21 A cross is delivered by Raheem Sterling, clearance by Pablo Zabaleta. by-line to the near post, Martin Skrtel manages to make a clearance. 86:07 Raheem Sterling sends in a cross, clearance by Kolo Toure. 41:34 Luis Suarez has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses right. 85:41 The ball is crossed by Aleksandar Kolarov, Effort on goal by Edin Dzeko from 40:58 Vincent Kompany concedes a free kick for a foul on Luis Suarez. Direct free inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar. kick taken by Steven Gerrard. 84:27 Centre by Steven Gerrard. 33:37 The assist for the goal came from Steven Gerrard. 84:21 The ball is swung over by Glen Johnson, clearance made by Vincent 33:37Goal scored Goal - Martin Skrtel - Liverpool 1 - 0 Man CityMartin Skrtel finds Kompany. the net with a headed goal from close in. Liverpool 1-0 Man City. 82:49Substitution Liverpool makes a substitution, with Andy Carroll coming on for 33:01 Corner taken right-footed by Steven Gerrard, Fabio Borini. 32:52 The ball is crossed by Steven Gerrard, clearance by Vincent Kompany. 82:40 Edin Dzeko produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes 32:38 The ball is sent over by Glen Johnson, Pablo Zabaleta manages to make a wide right of the goal. clearance. 81:56 Shot by Jonjo Shelvey from just outside the area goes over the net. 32:30 Luis Suarez produces a cross, clearance by Kolo Toure. 81:10 Foul by Vincent Kompany on Luis Suarez, free kick awarded. Direct free kick 30:59 Mario Balotelli produces a left-footed shot from inside the area that goes taken by Sebastian Coates. over the bar. 79:19Goal scored Goal - Carlos Tevez - Liverpool 2 - 2 Man CityCarlos Tevez finds 29:51 Jonjo Shelvey concedes a free kick for a foul on Yaya Toure. Vincent the back of the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty area low into the Kompany takes the free kick. middle of the goal. Liverpool 2-2 Man City. 29:25 Shot by Luis Suarez from 25 yards. Vincent Kompany gets a block in. 78:13 The ball is swung over by Yaya Toure, clearance made by Martin Skrtel. 28:01 Corner taken by Steven Gerrard from the left by-line to the near post, 77:01 Effort on goal by Edin Dzeko from just inside the area clears the crossbar. James Milner manages to make a clearance. 76:25 Steven Gerrard produces a cross, Kolo Toure manages to make a clearance. 27:50 Fabio Borini takes a shot. Blocked by Kolo Toure. 75:19 Direct free kick taken by Sanchez Jose Enrique. 27:01 Free kick awarded for a foul by Glen Johnson on James Milner. Joe Hart 75:19Substitution SubstitutionDavid Silva joins the action as a substitute, restarts play with the free kick. replacing James Milner. 24:44 Foul by Martin Kelly on Mario Balotelli, free kick awarded. Samir Nasri 75:19 Free kick awarded for a foul by James Milner on Sanchez Jose Enrique. crosses the ball in from the free kick. 69:13 Unfair challenge on Pablo Zabaleta by Luis Suarez results in a free kick. 22:41 The ball is sent over by Aleksandar Kolarov, blocked by Martin Kelly. Indirect free kick taken by Pablo Zabaleta. 20:40 Unfair challenge on Raheem Sterling by Kolo Toure results in a free kick. 68:53 The ball is swung over by Fabio Borini, clearance made by Jack Rodwell. Free kick taken by Jonjo Shelvey. 65:54 The assist for the goal came from Steven Gerrard. 20:30 Kolo Toure takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Blocked by Martin 65:54Goal scored Goal - Luis Suarez - Liverpool 2 - 1 Man CityLuis Suarez grabs a Skrtel. goal direct from the free kick from just outside the area to the bottom right 18:37 Carlos Tevez takes a shot from close in that bounces off the post. corner of the goal. Liverpool 2-1 Man City. 17:09 Centre by Raheem Sterling, Fabio Borini has an effort at goal from close in 64:40Substitution SubstitutionSanchez Jose Enrique joins the action as a which goes wide left of the goal. substitute, replacing Martin Kelly. 16:05 Carlos Tevez challenges Joe Allen unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free 64:40 Steven Gerrard takes a shot. Jack Rodwell handles the ball and concedes a kick taken by Jose Reina. free kick. 13:55 Carlos Tevez crosses the ball. 62:54 Carlos Tevez provided the assist for the goal. 12:01 James Milner crosses the ball, save by Jose Reina. 62:54Goal scored Goal - Yaya Toure - Liverpool 1 - 1 Man CityYaya Toure finds the 10:07 Aleksandar Kolarov fouled by Fabio Borini, the ref awards a free kick. Free back of the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom left taken by Yaya Toure. of the goal. Liverpool 1-1 Man City. 9:03 The ball is swung over by Samir Nasri, Martin Skrtel manages to make a 62:50 The ball is crossed by Carlos Tevez, clearance. 61:18Substitution Man City makes a substitution, with Edin Dzeko coming on for 7:55 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mario Balotelli by Martin Skrtel. Mario Balotelli. Strike comes in from Aleksandar Kolarov from the free kick, save made by Jose 60:59 The ball is sent over by Martin Kelly, clearance by Nigel De Jong. Reina. 60:15 The referee blows for offside against James Milner. Jose Reina restarts play 4:02Substitution SubstitutionJonjo Shelvey replaces Leiva Lucas. with the free kick. 3:06 Steven Gerrard has an effort at goal from outside the area which misses left. 59:48 Centre by Carlos Tevez, clearance made by Martin Skrtel. 1:20 Centre by James Milner, clearance by Sebastian Coates. 58:59Substitution SubstitutionJack Rodwell replaces Samir Nasri. 0:29 Steven Gerrard produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty 58:36 Raheem Sterling delivers the ball, clearance by Pablo Zabaleta. box that misses to the left of the goal. 57:48 The ball is sent over by Luis Suarez, clearance by Kolo Toure. 0:00 The game begins. 56:20 Fabio Borini delivers the ball, clearance by Pablo Zabaleta. 54:44 Corner taken right-footed by Samir Nasri from the left by-line to the near post, Martin Skrtel makes a clearance. 51:05 Foul by Vincent Kompany on Luis Suarez, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Luis Suarez. 50:10 Unfair challenge on Steven Gerrard by Mario Balotelli results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Steven Gerrard. 49:14 Shot by Luis Suarez from deep inside the penalty area misses wide to the

Compiled by Graeme Riley

26 2012 August Date: 26 August 2012 Guardian Mirror BBC Opposition: Manchester City Independent Mail MEN Telegraph Echo Times Competition: League

Brendan Rodgers made one City fan cry last season. But it was the Liverpool manager who had his head in his hands after Martin Skrtel’s horrific mistake gifted City a point at Anfield. Defeat to Rodgers’ Swansea was the low point in City’s title bid last season. And City got a measure of revenge yesterday, Carlos Tevez denying the Northern Irishman his first league win after replacing Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool manager during the summer. If things had worked out differently, Rodgers might have been on the visitors’ bench yesterday. After losing his job at Reading, he was approached to become Mancini’s assistant. “I went up at the end of the season, took a couple of days looking around the project and everything and I flew to Milan to meet Roberto out there,” he revealed. “Then all of a sudden I got the opportunity to go to Swansea.” Ahead of the game Mancini insisted Liverpool under Rodgers are genuine title challengers. “I think Liverpool will fight for the title this year,” he said. “They have bought good players, they have a good manager, they change their style of play and I'm sure they will fight for the title.” They’re kind words. The type respectful managers trade in the build-up to big games. But whether he believed it not is another matter entirely. After all, Liverpool finished eighth in the Premier League last season, below neighbours Everton and 37 points behind City. How far Liverpool have fallen since dominating English football in the 70s and 80s is best measured by Rodgers’ own expectations. In his programme notes he said his ambition was to return to the Champions League, although he conceded it would not be a ‘quick fix’. City have their sights set much higher. A long run in the Champions League is a priority but embarking on a Liverpool-style period of success is another. When Liverpool won the league in 1964 it was their first for 17 years. They won 12 more titles in the next 26 years and lifted the European Cup four times. City have their eye on a similar haul. Mancini trusted a much-changed side to carry on the defence of their Premier League trophy which started with a 3-2 win over Southampton on the opening weekend of the season. He ditched the back four he used against Southampton, opting for the back three he experimented with in pre-season and against Chelsea in the Community Shield. Aleksander Kolarov, Kolo Toure, Nigel de Jong, James Milner and Mario Balotelli came in for Gael Clichy – missing to attend the birth of his child – Joleon Lescott, Jack Rodwell, David Silva and the injured Sergio Aguero. Liverpool, already without the suspended Daniel Agger - a City target - were dealt an early blow when Lucas hobbled off after five minutes to be replaced by Jonjo Shelvey. Rodgers handed 17-year-old Raheem Sterling his first league start after an impressive full debut against Hearts in the Europa League in midweek. And he created the first chance, fizzing in cross from the left which was stabbed wide by Fabio Borini under pressure from Kolarov. Moments later, Kolarov was on the end of a verbal volley from Mancini. Tevez rounded Pepe Reina and saw his cross hit the post with Kolarov watching. It wasn’t hard to see that Mancini thought the Serbian should have been on the end of it. Kolarov pretended he didn’t hear. He did, even over the roar of the Kop. But there was no hiding from the tongue- lashing he walked into at half-time. Vincent Kompany did well to divert Steven Gerrard’s dangerous cross over the bar. But from the corner, Strkel blew past Kolarov to thump his header past Hart. After half-time the City fans behind Joe Hart’s goal urged their team forward but it was Liverpool again who had the first chance. Borini intercepted De Jong’s pass and it was only Yaya Toure who stopped Luis Suarez putting the hosts 2-0 up after chasing the Uruguayan striker 40 yards towards his own goal. Mancini had seen enough. Off came Samir Narsi and Mario Balotelli and on went Jack Rodwell – to shouts of ‘you should’ve stayed at a small club’ from the Liverpool fans – and Edin Dzeko with Yaya given instructions to push further forward. It’s Mancini’s ace up his sleeve, a tactical tweak that he used to great effect at the end of last season. It took less than a minute to work this time. Tevez brushed aside Sterling on the right, Martin Kelly got himself in a tangle and Yaya swept the loose ball into the net. The Kop wasn’t quiet for long. Suarez cites Tevez’s success in England as one of the reasons he moved here from Ajax. But Mancini will have wished he’d stayed away after watching Liverpool’s No7 curl his 66th-minute free-kick around the wall and into the net. But if games against QPR and Southampton have taught us anything, it’s that City have developed a knack of not knowing when they’re beaten. They proved it again at Anfield, Tevez picking up Skrtel’s back pass, rounding Pepe Reina and leaving Rodgers misty-eyed. The only surprise was that City didn’t go on to score a third and win 3-2 for a fourth time in a row.

Compiled by Graeme Riley